Buying my first leica

[andreww rhea]

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I tried my hardest to resist the urge, I was going to buy a sensible camera, maybe something digital, but in my introduction to drawing class we watched a video of vic muniz and he was shooting with a leica m6(I think) and now Ive got my mind made up, I need a leica.

 

so anyways Im going to be in NYC in about a month and I wanted to buy one when I was there, but does anyone know of a good place to buy used leica equipment in the city? I know there are the mega camera stores but they always seem to charge a fair bit for their used equipment?

 

also any recommendations on what to buy would be greatly appreciated, I'm only going to have between 1500- 2000 bucks, and I cant decide is it better to buy a cheaper body (maybe a bessa) and buy a nicer lens like a new summicron, or buy a nicer body like an M6 and buy a cheper lens like a zeiss(I actually like zeiss optics) and than buy nicer lenses latter.

 

Im basically looking to buy only one lens for now either a 50 or 35(which is the focal length I use the most now) any suggestions on which is a better starter lens.

 

I know its a lot of questions but any help would be greatly appreciated, as a starving art student I MUST HAVE A LEICA!!

 

sorry If I posted this in the wrong forum its my first time posting.

[leitz_not_leica]

I would get an M6 for the meter and being newer. I would also get a pre-asph 35/2 any version, as prefocusing is easier on the street (DOF is greater), and you wrote that you like this length, me too.

 

Try Rich Pinto at Photovillage (Google it).

 

Do your research, and buy carefully. If you do, and don't like the RF way, you will get all of your money back.

[Sandokan]

The Photo Village, Inc.

for Photovillage - I second it. Check the web site to see what they have.

 

I got my M6 LHSA black paint there and a 35 Summicron.

 

If you like 35mm view then buy the 35mm lens

 

I have the 35 but in reality I have discovered I like the 50mm view, so I guess I will have to buy the M8 one day

[NZDavid]

I third Photo Village, Rich is very helpful. You won;t go wrong with an M6 plus a 35 or 50. Easy!

[Guest lykoudos]

Hello Andy,

 

I can recommend very the M6 TTL to you. Property many years thereby fotographiert and no problems with this camera had. If I had to decide personally for one of both objectives, I would select the 50mm. I fotographiere predominantly with the Summilux 50 and sometimes with that 2.8/28 or the 2,0/90mm. But that is a thing of the taste. At present there is a very good M6 TTL with the MP with ebay Sucher. Look simple times there purely.

 

Regards

Wolfgang

MP grey hammertone

[biglouis]

Andy

 

Based on recently undertaking the same purchase here in the UK I can echo what Wolfgang has posted and suggest you try to get a M6TTL. The main advantage, imho, is the larger shutter speed wheel and the ability to turn the meter off (and ensure that the batteries are not draining). Also, for some reason, they are sometimes at a discount to M6 "classics". If you don't think you need 28mm framelines then the .85 viewfinder version is sometimes discounted further. I'd also support the idea that you get a 35mm prime over a 50mm if that is what you prefer.

 

LouisB

[earleygallery]

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Yes go for a Leica body - once you have it you won't need another camera. Buy the Bessa and - good tho it is - you'll always want to trade up.

 

For your budget you should be able to get an M6 and Summicron 35 or 50. You could also consider a Voigtlander 35mm - I have the 2.5 which is excellent - and add more lenses as you go. The older Leica glass is very good too.

[efreddi]

... I MUST HAVE A LEICA!!

 

 

I had the same need one year ago. After many questions and thinking I ended up buying a second hand M6 in very good condition plus Summicron 50/2 (version 11817, strangely with focus tab) in a shop of Berlin through an insertion in ebay. Not to say how much I'm satisfied, really a great body and great great lens. Now somewhen a Summicron 35 will arrive...

 

Good luck!

 

 

Elia

[StS]

A rangefinder like the Leica M is polarizing in the way it is used, not everyone likes it. I got addicted in one hour using a M I borrowed from Leitz at a photo fair.

[Overgaard]

M6 or M4 with a 35mm f/2.0 (or f/1.4).

 

The M6 has the lighmeter build in why it is more convenient. The M4 is the classic choice and feels build to last for a lifetime but requires external lightmeter.

 

The 35mm is *the* Leica lens. Start with that, you can do almost anything you want to with that.

 

But don't go for another lens than the Leica and don't go above f/2.0. It's in the lens quality and a lens that can take photos without sunshine the real experience lies. Just don't compromise on that aspect.

[peter_n]

All the above recommendations for an M6 + Summicron 35 are good. Konica M-Hexanon and Zeiss M 35/2 are also very good. Do a bit of research, go to NYC and get a feel for your chosen combination. Either buy or if you live outside of New York State have the camera & lens set aside for you and order by email and get it shipped (sales tax in NY = 8%?).

[abrewer]

M body and a 35 Summicron...same as everybody else. Can't beat it.

[gylee]

I have to agree on the 35 - if you are only going to have one lens for a while it is a better choice than the 50. I bought an MP and a 50 Summicron earlier this year - although I really like the 50 view on my full frame DSLR, I think that it is too tight on the MP. I don't know why, it just is. Perhaps it is because I was using only one lens on the MP, whereas I had a range available to me on the DSLR. Perhaps if I'd had to use just a 50 on that as well, I would have come to the same realisation. I have recently added a Zeiss 28mm 2.8 Biogon and that is a good combination with the 50. However, I suspect that if I had bought the 35 in the first place I would have been happy to stick with the one lens. Seriously considering a second body with a 0.58 finder for the 28 now... (it's a viscious cycle)

 

I seem to recall Mr Brewer advising me to get the 35 instead of the 50. I didn't listen to him - you should.

[abrewer]

 

I seem to recall Mr Brewer advising me to get the 35 instead of the 50. I didn't listen to him - you should.

 

 

Gordon, there's a reason I always suggest the 35 first.

 

I did the same thing as you when I bought my MP: went for the 50 because it was less expensive.

 

I soon found out it was too narrow for what I wanted to take pictures of (cars primarily) and sold it to buy the 35. Never looked back after that.

 

Fortunately a good 50 'Cron will sell for as much or more as you paid for it if you've been a good shopper, so I didn't lose anything. But it was an important lesson learned.

 

Thanks.

 

Allan

[Iron Flatline]

Photo Village, the people there are very nice and extremely knowledgable.

 

Go to B&H just to have seen it, or to get whatever Photo Village doesn't have.

[ade909]

The M6 TTL was made with 0.58, 0.72 and 0.85 magnification viewfinders. Take care to chose the one that works both for you, and the lens you buy.

 

My first M was a 0.85 TTL which I found difficult to use with a 35mm lens, because the framelines are almost at the very edge of the viewfinder. I had to "look around" the viewfinder to see them, which made quick composition difficult, and nullified a great rangefinder advantage, which is to see things moving in and out of the frame.

 

However, put a 50mm lens on the same camera, and you've got a great combination! The framelines sit about a third in from the edges, and are crystal clear.

 

I have since bought a 0.58 TTL, which I use with my 35mm lenses. This is something of a luxury, I admit. If your budget is tight, and you want just one body, I'd suggest a 0.72 mag viewefinder, which is half-way between the other two, and will (for most people) comfortably work with a 35mm or a 50mm lens.

 

Why do I qualify it "for most people"? Well, if you wear spectacles, you might find that the distance they add between your eyes and the viewfinder mean you need a 0.58....

 

The moral of the story? Try before you buy!

 

good luck : )

 

Adrian